{"id":17594,"date":"2026-06-18T17:55:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T21:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=17594"},"modified":"2026-06-18T17:55:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T21:55:17","slug":"sred-audit-triggers-guide","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/sred-audit-triggers-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"What actually triggers an SR&amp;ED audit in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull resource-sticky-downloadable-template has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull blog-template-header has-light-violet-50-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div style=\"--bb--crumb-gap:.4em;\" class=\"blog-template-breadcrumb wp-block-employmentherocom2025-breadcrumb-block\"><nav role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb-items\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item breadcrumb-item--current breadcrumb-item--home\"><span class=\"breadcrumb-item-name\">Home<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"item\":{\"name\":\"Home\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/employmenthero.com\\\/en-ca\\\/\"}}]}<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-template-tags is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6)\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" class=\"taxonomy-resource-type eh-resource-type wp-block-post-terms\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-post-terms-icon\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"icon-blog\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/11\/eye-logo.png\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/guides-and-playbooks\/\" rel=\"tag\">Guides and Playbooks<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title-mobile has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><h2 class=\"blog-template-title wp-block-post-title\">What actually triggers an SR&amp;ED audit in 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-sm-font-size\">Published<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-18T17:55:15-04:00\">18 Jun 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns content-flex is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:55%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sticky-downloadable-title has-light-violet-50-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--24)\"><h1 class=\"blog-template-title wp-block-post-title\">What actually triggers an SR&amp;ED audit in 2026<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-sm-font-size\">Published<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-18T17:55:15-04:00\">18 Jun 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-wrapper has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">The founder&#8217;s guide to staying review-ready without the paperwork panic<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Most founders treat SR&amp;ED reviews like a coin flip. File the claim, cross your fingers, hope the CRA looks the other way. That mindset costs you. SR&amp;ED audits aren&#8217;t random. They follow patterns, and once you understand those patterns, scrutiny stops being a threat and becomes something you can plan around. This guide breaks down what genuinely raises your SR&amp;ED audit risk in 2026, what founders worry about for no reason and how to build a claim that holds up when someone asks you to show your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What raises your SR&amp;ED audit risk in 2026 (and what doesn&#8217;t)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">SR&amp;ED claim review has gotten smarter. The CRA leans on data, pattern recognition and inconsistencies far more than it used to. That&#8217;s good news for prepared founders and bad news for the ones treating documentation as an afterthought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">The triggers that matter are rarely dramatic. A claim that swings wildly year over year. Technical narratives that don&#8217;t match your payroll records. Time allocations that look estimated rather than tracked. Expenses you can&#8217;t tie back to eligible work. None of these mean you did anything wrong. All of them invite a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">What probably won&#8217;t trigger a review. Being small. Being pre-revenue. Filing your first claim. Growing fast. Making an honest correction. Founders burn real energy worrying about these, and almost none of them move the needle. The real risk lives in the gap between what your claim says and what your records can prove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What&#8217;s in this guide?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark\">\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">The specific signals that increase your chances of a CRA SR&amp;ED review in 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">The common myths that scare founders but rarely trigger scrutiny<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">How to build SR&amp;ED claim documentation that holds up under review<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Why fragmented payroll and HR records weaken your claim and how to fix it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">A practical readiness checklist you can action before your next filing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to reduce SR&amp;ED audit risk and stay review-ready<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">A strong SR&amp;ED claim isn&#8217;t built in March. It&#8217;s built all year, in the records you keep while the work is actually happening. The founders who breeze through reviews aren&#8217;t lucky. They documented technical uncertainty as it came up, kept clean payroll data and could connect every dollar claimed to real eligible work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">That&#8217;s the whole game. Accurate records, kept in real time, backed by systems that agree with each other. Do that and a review becomes boring. Boring is exactly what you want. This guide gives you the practical framework to get there without turning your team into a documentation factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Get the facts and the real-world examples in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#form\"><strong>Download the guide<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-faq eh-faq eh-faq__bg-light\"><div class=\"eh-faq__container\"><div class=\"eh-faq__header\"><h2 class=\"eh-faq__title\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2><p class=\"eh-faq__subtitle\"><\/p><\/div><div class=\"eh-faq__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-simple-accordion eh-simple-accordion\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"accordion-1779423365086\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__checkbox\"\/><label for=\"accordion-1779423365086\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__header\"><h3 class=\"eh-simple-accordion__title\">What triggers an SR&amp;ED audit in 2026?<\/h3><span class=\"eh-simple-accordion__icon\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M10.3966 3.60341C10.3966 2.71788 11.1145 2 12 2C12.8855 2 13.6034 2.71788 13.6034 3.60341V10.3966H20.3966C21.2822 10.3966 22 11.1145 22 12C22 12.8856 21.2822 13.6034 20.3966 13.6034H13.6034V20.3966C13.6034 21.2822 12.8855 22 12 22C11.1145 22 10.3966 21.2822 10.3966 20.3966V13.6034H3.6034C2.71786 13.6034 2 12.8856 2 12C2 11.1145 2.71786 10.3966 3.6034 10.3966H10.3966V3.60341Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/label><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__content\"><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__inner\">\n<p>The most common triggers are inconsistencies. Claims that don&#8217;t reconcile with payroll records, large unexplained year-over-year swings, vague technical narratives and expenses that can&#8217;t be tied to eligible work. CRA review increasingly relies on data and pattern detection, so gaps between what you claim and what you can prove are what draw attention.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-simple-accordion eh-simple-accordion\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"accordion-1779259979719\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__checkbox\"\/><label for=\"accordion-1779259979719\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__header\"><h3 class=\"eh-simple-accordion__title\">Will filing my first SR&amp;ED claim increase my audit risk?<\/h3><span class=\"eh-simple-accordion__icon\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M10.3966 3.60341C10.3966 2.71788 11.1145 2 12 2C12.8855 2 13.6034 2.71788 13.6034 3.60341V10.3966H20.3966C21.2822 10.3966 22 11.1145 22 12C22 12.8856 21.2822 13.6034 20.3966 13.6034H13.6034V20.3966C13.6034 21.2822 12.8855 22 12 22C11.1145 22 10.3966 21.2822 10.3966 20.3966V13.6034H3.6034C2.71786 13.6034 2 12.8856 2 12C2 11.1145 2.71786 10.3966 3.6034 10.3966H10.3966V3.60341Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/label><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__content\"><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__inner\">\n<p>Not on its own. First-time claims aren&#8217;t inherently suspicious. What matters is whether your claim is well documented and consistent. A clean first claim is far safer than a sloppy fifth one.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-simple-accordion eh-simple-accordion\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"accordion-1779260082094\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__checkbox\"\/><label for=\"accordion-1779260082094\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__header\"><h3 class=\"eh-simple-accordion__title\">Does a pre-revenue startup get audited more often?<\/h3><span class=\"eh-simple-accordion__icon\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M10.3966 3.60341C10.3966 2.71788 11.1145 2 12 2C12.8855 2 13.6034 2.71788 13.6034 3.60341V10.3966H20.3966C21.2822 10.3966 22 11.1145 22 12C22 12.8856 21.2822 13.6034 20.3966 13.6034H13.6034V20.3966C13.6034 21.2822 12.8855 22 12 22C11.1145 22 10.3966 21.2822 10.3966 20.3966V13.6034H3.6034C2.71786 13.6034 2 12.8856 2 12C2 11.1145 2.71786 10.3966 3.6034 10.3966H10.3966V3.60341Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/label><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__content\"><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__inner\">\n<p>No. Being early-stage or pre-profit isn&#8217;t a trigger. The refundable portion of SR&amp;ED exists specifically so early companies can benefit. Reviewers care about the quality of your records, not the size of your revenue.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-simple-accordion eh-simple-accordion\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"accordion-1779260103861\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__checkbox\"\/><label for=\"accordion-1779260103861\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__header\"><h3 class=\"eh-simple-accordion__title\">What documentation do I need to defend an SR&amp;ED claim?<\/h3><span class=\"eh-simple-accordion__icon\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M10.3966 3.60341C10.3966 2.71788 11.1145 2 12 2C12.8855 2 13.6034 2.71788 13.6034 3.60341V10.3966H20.3966C21.2822 10.3966 22 11.1145 22 12C22 12.8856 21.2822 13.6034 20.3966 13.6034H13.6034V20.3966C13.6034 21.2822 12.8855 22 12 22C11.1145 22 10.3966 21.2822 10.3966 20.3966V13.6034H3.6034C2.71786 13.6034 2 12.8856 2 12C2 11.1145 2.71786 10.3966 3.6034 10.3966H10.3966V3.60341Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/label><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__content\"><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__inner\">\n<p>You want contemporaneous records, meaning documentation created while the work happened. That includes project notes, technical problem logs, time allocation tied to eligible work and clean payroll data that backs up the salaries you&#8217;re claiming.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-simple-accordion eh-simple-accordion\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"accordion-1779260118578\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__checkbox\"\/><label for=\"accordion-1779260118578\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__header\"><h3 class=\"eh-simple-accordion__title\">How far back can the CRA review an SR&amp;ED claim?<\/h3><span class=\"eh-simple-accordion__icon\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M10.3966 3.60341C10.3966 2.71788 11.1145 2 12 2C12.8855 2 13.6034 2.71788 13.6034 3.60341V10.3966H20.3966C21.2822 10.3966 22 11.1145 22 12C22 12.8856 21.2822 13.6034 20.3966 13.6034H13.6034V20.3966C13.6034 21.2822 12.8855 22 12 22C11.1145 22 10.3966 21.2822 10.3966 20.3966V13.6034H3.6034C2.71786 13.6034 2 12.8856 2 12C2 11.1145 2.71786 10.3966 3.6034 10.3966H10.3966V3.60341Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/label><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__content\"><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__inner\">\n<p>Reviews typically focus on the claim year in question. The bigger risk isn&#8217;t how far back they look, it&#8217;s whether you can still produce strong records for the period you claimed. Memory fades. Documentation doesn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-simple-accordion eh-simple-accordion\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"accordion-1779260132129\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__checkbox\"\/><label for=\"accordion-1779260132129\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__header\"><h3 class=\"eh-simple-accordion__title\">Can disconnected payroll and HR systems weaken my claim?<\/h3><span class=\"eh-simple-accordion__icon\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M10.3966 3.60341C10.3966 2.71788 11.1145 2 12 2C12.8855 2 13.6034 2.71788 13.6034 3.60341V10.3966H20.3966C21.2822 10.3966 22 11.1145 22 12C22 12.8856 21.2822 13.6034 20.3966 13.6034H13.6034V20.3966C13.6034 21.2822 12.8855 22 12 22C11.1145 22 10.3966 21.2822 10.3966 20.3966V13.6034H3.6034C2.71786 13.6034 2 12.8856 2 12C2 11.1145 2.71786 10.3966 3.6034 10.3966H10.3966V3.60341Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/label><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__content\"><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__inner\">\n<p>Yes. When your payroll says one thing and your HR records say another, you create exactly the kind of inconsistency reviewers flag. Connecting your people and pay data into one source of truth makes claims faster to prepare and easier to defend.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-simple-accordion eh-simple-accordion\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"accordion-1779260148426\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__checkbox\"\/><label for=\"accordion-1779260148426\" class=\"eh-simple-accordion__header\"><h3 class=\"eh-simple-accordion__title\">How do I make an SR&amp;ED review less stressful?<\/h3><span class=\"eh-simple-accordion__icon\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M10.3966 3.60341C10.3966 2.71788 11.1145 2 12 2C12.8855 2 13.6034 2.71788 13.6034 3.60341V10.3966H20.3966C21.2822 10.3966 22 11.1145 22 12C22 12.8856 21.2822 13.6034 20.3966 13.6034H13.6034V20.3966C13.6034 21.2822 12.8855 22 12 22C11.1145 22 10.3966 21.2822 10.3966 20.3966V13.6034H3.6034C2.71786 13.6034 2 12.8856 2 12C2 11.1145 2.71786 10.3966 3.6034 10.3966H10.3966V3.60341Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/label><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__content\"><div class=\"eh-simple-accordion__inner\">\n<p>Build readiness into your everyday operations. Document as you go, keep payroll clean, review your records regularly and treat SR&amp;ED as a year-round habit rather than a tax-season scramble. The goal is a review you can answer in an afternoon, not a week.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/\",\n    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n    \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What triggers an SR&amp;ED audit in 2026?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"<p>The most common triggers are inconsistencies. Claims that don't reconcile with payroll records, large unexplained year-over-year swings, vague technical narratives and expenses that can't be tied to eligible work. CRA review increasingly relies on data and pattern detection, so gaps between what you claim and what you can prove are what draw attention.<\/p>\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Will filing my first SR&amp;ED claim increase my audit risk?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"<p>Not on its own. First-time claims aren't inherently suspicious. What matters is whether your claim is well documented and consistent. A clean first claim is far safer than a sloppy fifth one.<\/p>\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Does a pre-revenue startup get audited more often?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"<p>No. Being early-stage or pre-profit isn't a trigger. The refundable portion of SR&amp;ED exists specifically so early companies can benefit. Reviewers care about the quality of your records, not the size of your revenue.<\/p>\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What documentation do I need to defend an SR&amp;ED claim?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"<p>You want contemporaneous records, meaning documentation created while the work happened. That includes project notes, technical problem logs, time allocation tied to eligible work and clean payroll data that backs up the salaries you're claiming.<\/p>\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"How far back can the CRA review an SR&amp;ED claim?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"<p>Reviews typically focus on the claim year in question. The bigger risk isn't how far back they look, it's whether you can still produce strong records for the period you claimed. Memory fades. Documentation doesn't.<\/p>\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can disconnected payroll and HR systems weaken my claim?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"<p>Yes. When your payroll says one thing and your HR records say another, you create exactly the kind of inconsistency reviewers flag. Connecting your people and pay data into one source of truth makes claims faster to prepare and easier to defend.<\/p>\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"How do I make an SR&amp;ED review less stressful?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"<p>Build readiness into your everyday operations. Document as you go, keep payroll clean, review your records regularly and treat SR&amp;ED as a year-round habit rather than a tax-season scramble. The goal is a review you can answer in an afternoon, not a week.<\/p>\"\n            }\n        }\n    ]\n}<\/script>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#form\"><strong>Download the guide<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<style>\n#content-wrapper a,\n#content-wrapper p:not(.disclaimer),\n#content-wrapper ol,\n#content-wrapper ul {\n\u00a0\u00a0font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--paragraph-2-m) !important;\n}\n\n.content-wrapper li > ul li {padding-bottom:0.75rem!important;}\n.content-wrapper li:last-child > ul li {padding-bottom:0!important;}\n.eh-faq__container {flex-direction:column!important;}\n@media screen and (min-width: 1441px) {\n\u00a0.eh-faq__content {\n\u00a0max-width: 904px!important;\n\u00a0min-width: 715px!important;\n\u00a0}\n}\n.eh-faq {padding:0px 0px 24px 0px!important;}\n\n<\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column form-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div id=\"form\" class=\"wp-block-group form-v2-violet-box-shadow-pattern is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-marketo-form-v2 is-layout-flow wp-block-marketo-form-v2-is-layout-flow\">\n                                                            <section class=\"eh_marketo_form-title-section eh_marketo_form-title-section--small\" aria-labelledby=\"marketo-form-title\">\n        <div class=\"eh_marketo_form-title-container\">\n                                        <h2 id=\"marketo-form-title\" class=\"eh_marketo_form-title\">Register to download the guide<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n            <\/section>\n                            <div class=\"eh_marketo_form-container_v2\" data-marketo-form=\"{&quot;is_multi_steps&quot;:false,&quot;form_data&quot;:[{&quot;base_url&quot;:&quot;\/\/hr.employmenthero.io&quot;,&quot;munchkin_id&quot;:&quot;387-SZZ-170&quot;,&quot;form_id&quot;:&quot;1737&quot;,&quot;css_classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;}],&quot;submit_text&quot;:&quot;Download now&quot;,&quot;success_handling_method&quot;:&quot;thank_you_page&quot;,&quot;redirect_url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;thank_you_message&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;add_lead_linking_id&quot;:false,&quot;add_drift_campaign_id&quot;:false,&quot;drift_campaign_id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;thank_you_page_id&quot;:&quot;4617&quot;,&quot;thank_you_page_url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/thank-you\/downloadable\/?origin=sred-audit-triggers-guide&amp;origin_id=h81U5z9xAxOW0BsEwYtwpq%2BwAHL0rKxICzyMT3ReMrePR7JriLzFyI%2FpJvasVqTYZoaEc1%2BsLyIZhIprHKXkAQ%3D%3D&quot;,&quot;progress_indicator_type&quot;:&quot;progress-bar&quot;,&quot;enable_revenue_hero&quot;:false,&quot;revenue_hero_router_id&quot;:&quot;4668&quot;,&quot;revenue_hero_thank_you_message&quot;:&quot;Thank you for booking!&quot;}\"><\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull eh-single-resource-whitepapers-layout has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-violet-50-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div id=\"stop-el\" class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-10 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-link-arrow is-style-link-arrow--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-btn-brand-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/businesses\/\">View all<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query blog-3-col-query-loop is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"columns-3 alignfull wp-block-post-template is-layout-grid wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-1 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-17649 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry resource-type-guides-and-playbooks\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-neutral-100-border-color has-white-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-13 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;min-height:100%\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:100%; padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/workplace-conflict-management-guide\/\" target=\"_self\"  style=\"height:100%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/guide.webp\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"How to manage team conflict: A guide for Canadian employers\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/guide.webp 1600w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/guide-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/guide-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/guide-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/guide-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/guide-440x248.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-3-col-details wp-container-content-3 is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-11 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" class=\"taxonomy-resource-type eh-resource-type wp-block-post-terms\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-post-terms-icon\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"icon-blog\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/11\/eye-logo.png\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/guides-and-playbooks\/\" rel=\"tag\">Guides and Playbooks<\/a><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/workplace-conflict-management-guide\/\" target=\"_self\" >How to manage team conflict: A guide for Canadian employers<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-contrast-2-color has-small-font-size wp-container-content-2\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Learn how to manage team conflict in your Canadian workplace. Practical strategies for HR managers and people leaders to de-escalate&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<a style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-elements-9dfcbcb7662772ecb2d671e8976a6c51 wp-block-read-more has-text-color has-violet-500-color\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/workplace-conflict-management-guide\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: How to manage team conflict: A guide for Canadian employers<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/workplace-conflict-management-guide\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"group-block-link\"><\/a>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-17641 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry resource-type-guides-and-playbooks\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-neutral-100-border-color has-white-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-16 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;min-height:100%\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:100%; padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/ontario-parental-leave-guide\/\" target=\"_self\"  style=\"height:100%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/dea1882e7bcc4c2d7a90541680ae89bc.webp\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ontario parental leave: Your complete guide for 2026\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/dea1882e7bcc4c2d7a90541680ae89bc.webp 1600w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/dea1882e7bcc4c2d7a90541680ae89bc-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/dea1882e7bcc4c2d7a90541680ae89bc-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/dea1882e7bcc4c2d7a90541680ae89bc-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/dea1882e7bcc4c2d7a90541680ae89bc-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/dea1882e7bcc4c2d7a90541680ae89bc-440x248.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-3-col-details wp-container-content-6 is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-15 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-14 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" class=\"taxonomy-resource-type eh-resource-type wp-block-post-terms\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-post-terms-icon\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"icon-blog\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/11\/eye-logo.png\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/guides-and-playbooks\/\" rel=\"tag\">Guides and Playbooks<\/a><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/ontario-parental-leave-guide\/\" target=\"_self\" >Ontario parental leave: Your complete guide for 2026<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-contrast-2-color has-small-font-size wp-container-content-5\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Understand Ontario parental leave rules for 2026. Covers ESA entitlements, EI benefits, employer obligations and job reinstatement rights. Download the&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<a style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-elements-9dfcbcb7662772ecb2d671e8976a6c51 wp-block-read-more has-text-color has-violet-500-color\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/ontario-parental-leave-guide\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: Ontario parental leave: Your complete guide for 2026<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/ontario-parental-leave-guide\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"group-block-link\"><\/a>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-17620 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry resource-type-guides-and-playbooks\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-neutral-100-border-color has-white-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-19 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;min-height:100%\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:100%; padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/rapid-hospitality-onboarding-smb-guide\/\" target=\"_self\"  style=\"height:100%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/From-application-to-shift-in-48-hours-thumbnail.webp\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"From application to shift in 48 hours\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/From-application-to-shift-in-48-hours-thumbnail.webp 1600w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/From-application-to-shift-in-48-hours-thumbnail-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/From-application-to-shift-in-48-hours-thumbnail-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/From-application-to-shift-in-48-hours-thumbnail-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/From-application-to-shift-in-48-hours-thumbnail-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/From-application-to-shift-in-48-hours-thumbnail-440x248.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-3-col-details wp-container-content-9 is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-18 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-17 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" class=\"taxonomy-resource-type eh-resource-type wp-block-post-terms\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-post-terms-icon\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"icon-blog\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/11\/eye-logo.png\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/guides-and-playbooks\/\" rel=\"tag\">Guides and Playbooks<\/a><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/rapid-hospitality-onboarding-smb-guide\/\" target=\"_self\" >From application to shift in 48 hours<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-contrast-2-color has-small-font-size wp-container-content-8\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Stop losing great hires to slow paperwork. Discover how to build a compliant, 48-hour hospitality onboarding flow that gets staff&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<a style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-elements-9dfcbcb7662772ecb2d671e8976a6c51 wp-block-read-more has-text-color has-violet-500-color\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/rapid-hospitality-onboarding-smb-guide\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: From application to shift in 48 hours<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/rapid-hospitality-onboarding-smb-guide\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"group-block-link\"><\/a>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What actually triggers a CRA SR&#038;ED audit in 2026? Learn the real risk factors, debunk common startup myths, and get a practical checklist to stay review-ready.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":17599,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_lite_auth_enabled":false,"_lite_auth_trigger_method":"scroll","_lite_auth_scroll_percent":25,"_lite_auth_click_element_query":"","exclude_from_algolia":false,"reading_time":"3 min read","display_reading_time":false,"registration_open_datetime":"","registration_close_datetime":"","event_start_datetime":"","event_end_datetime":"","time_zone":"","location":"","link_video":"","video_type":"","file_video":"","download_content_type":"file","download_file":"17598","download_url":"","download_cta_label":"","footnotes":""},"resource-type":[256],"topic":[],"industry":[],"search-tags":[],"audience":[],"business-size":[],"product-tag":[],"funnel-stage":[],"region":[],"pain-point":[],"persona":[],"post_features":[],"class_list":["post-17594","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource-type-guides-and-playbooks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/17594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resources"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/17594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17603,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/17594\/revisions\/17603"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"search-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/search-tags?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/audience?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"business-size","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/business-size?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"product-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product-tag?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"funnel-stage","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/funnel-stage?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"pain-point","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pain-point?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=17594"},{"taxonomy":"post_features","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_features?post=17594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}